7 Important Life Hacks for Family Caregivers

By Ted Holmgren, 9:00 am on October 23, 2017

Daily caregiving responsibilities can lead to stress, burnout, and other issues. It is important for family caregivers to make their days less stressful by utilizing certain life hacks. Here are a few essential life hacks family caregivers should consider.

1. Set Alarms

By setting alarms and using smartphone reminders, caregivers can manage their responsibilities with less chaos and stress. Setting alarms ensures seniors take their medications, eat their meals, exercise or participate in other physical activities, and complete other daily tasks at the same time every day.

Consider hiring a professional caregiver if you need help caring for your loved one and ensuring he or she remains organized. If you are the primary family caregiver for an elderly loved one and need additional assistance providing high-quality non-medical in-home care, Ahwatukee Foothills Home Care Assistance can help. We are a leading home care agency committed to changing the way seniors age.

2. Pack a Ready Bag

Trips to the doctor generally lead to long waits for seniors and their caregivers. The boredom could cause you and your loved one to become agitated and unhappy. However, packing a bag of healthy snacks and drinks, games, and books or magazines could alleviate boredom while in the waiting room. You can also pack a ready bag when attending meetings and other events where you and your loved one could encounter a long waiting period.

3. Purchase Flexible Utensils

Spoons and forks with long handles and bendy straws are some of the many flexible utensils you can use to feed your loved one, especially if he or she prefers eating while lying in bed or sitting in a reclining chair. Using flexible utensils can prevent family caregivers from overexerting themselves.

4. Create Some Space for Yourself

Having your own area in the home can cut down on chaos and stress. Designate a specific coat rack for your jackets, sweaters, and coats, or a bowl to hold your keys and other accessories. The objective is to create a space in the home you can use on a daily basis. Creating some space for yourself can make your mornings and evenings less stressful and hectic.

5. Host a Food Prepping Party

Cooking weekly meals for your loved one can be a challenging task. Hosting a food prep party makes meal preparation a little less time consuming for family caregivers. You can invite your friends or other family members over to help you prepare the meals and snacks for the week. Make the food prep party more entertaining by having music playing in the background. You could also add a little fun to the food prepping activities by incorporating themed meals and snacks for the week.

6. Find Support

Joining an online or local caregiver support group is a life hack all family caregivers should consider. Being a part of a group allows you to exchange stories with other caregivers or receive advice and tips from professionals who have been in your situation. You can also hire a professional caregiver if you need a break from your caregiving duties to relax or tend to other important chores.

In Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ, respite care is a great help to many families. Caring for a senior loved one can be overwhelming at times, which puts family caregivers at risk for burnout. However, an in-home caregiver can take over your loved one’s care, allowing you the time you need to focus on your own health, maintain a full-time job, or care for other members of your family.

7. Use Smartphone Apps

Mobile apps are generally designed to make life a little easier, so make sure to take advantage of them. Family caregivers can choose apps that allow them to track supplements, prescriptions, therapist appointments, and dietary regimens. You can also use mobile apps to coordinate schedules with other family members and caregivers, track doctor appointments, and receive news and medical updates pertaining to your loved one’s health.

Caring for a senior loved one can be an overwhelming task. Family caregivers who need help providing high-quality home care for their loved ones can benefit from professional in-home care. In Ahwatukee Foothills, Arizona, caregiver agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Home Care Assistance, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. We offer a revolutionary program called the Balanced Care Method, which encourages seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy. Call us at 480-448-6215 to schedule a free in-home consultation.